There was a general murmuring of agreement.
When she arrived, Dutch had been outside, walking the property and making sure the fences were intact when the rain began to fall. It had become customary for me to do it in the evenings. I made it into the shelter, but Dutch had run ahead.Thinking he was in the stable, I heard him give a warning bark outside, from behind the barn. Thinking it was an intruder, I ran out and saw him cornering a large gray stallion with a small boy riding him. The stallion reared up and threw you from his back. Your head hit a large rock when you landed, and when you awoke the next morning, you had no memory.
Not until yesterday afternoon, during our walk in the stables. Something caused you extreme head pain, and you fainted.” He swallowed, pushing past the lump in his throat.I thought I had lost you…just when I found you, Selena.
Dutch barked, and everyone laughed, all needing a moment of relief. He had forgotten the dog had followed them in here, but he had always allowed Dutch to go where he wanted inside the house or out. “He knows we are talking about him.”
Banbury spoke up. “Selena, you spent a considerable time around the supposed viscount. Selena, do either you or your mother recall seeing a tattoo on his wrist?”
Fleur shook her head and looked at her daughter.
~*~
Chapter Thirteen
Selena couldn’t shake her last memory of Lord Percival Bowles. Her heart pounded in her throat as she remembered hisvisit to her room the night he’d told her, almost gleefully, that her mother had died. He had attacked her, taunting her, and insisting she would marry him. The lecherous man had grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, his stale whisky breath nearly smothered her as he forced his vile mouth on hers, while his coal-black eyes bore into her own. As much as she wanted not to recall the horrible attack, she closed her eyes and saw it all, every last disgusting detail, as he abused her and mocked her with acerbic laughter. He had adjusted his sleeves after he let her go and told her to pack for Gretna Green, before leaving her room.
She would never forget the sight and feel of those repulsive hands and that revolting mouth. But in a flash of memory, there was something else she saw….
“I remember… I remember seeing his right wrist. It was when he adjusted his right sleeve. There was no tattoo. I would have remembered that after what he did,” she said, looking away.
“What did he do, Selena?” Gerald asked. His voice had a steely calmness to it.
“H-he hurt me…” she stuttered. “But not in the way you might think. I mean, he didn’t….” Selena swallowed, unable to finish the sentence. How could she possibly tell this room full of people that the man had assaulted her…and then bit her? She couldn’t. Shame consumed her.What must Gerald and his family think of me—the woman he’s betrothed to marry?
“Did he hit you?” Wright asked.
She nodded and her eyes filled with tears. “He was brutal.” She noticed that Gerald’s face flushed a deep set of red, and the tightness of his jaw conveyed his mounting anger.
“Miss Bowles, your information revealed valuable information about the man, and we appreciate the effort it took to relive it,” Wright said.
“Thank you, Lord Wright,” Selena said.
“Rest assured we will stop him and mete out justice,” Gerald said with a steely voice.”
She took her mother’s hand and squeezed it. Percival was a despicable demon, and he had soiled her. How could Gerald possibly want to marry a woman who had been defiled? She bit her bottom lip, worried that Percival had done more—perhaps something she hadn’t recalled, yet.
She needed to tell Gerald everything she remembered. They had made a pact to keep no more secrets, but she was filled with fear and uncertainty about how he would react. She couldn’t delay the conversation forever, but the thought of losing him made her heart thunder in panic.
“I’m feeling tired. If you will excuse me, I’d like to lie down for a little while,” Selena said. It was true, she was exhausted, but she was also stalling. She needed to gather her thoughts before facing Gerald with the ugly truth.
“Allow me to walk you upstairs, Selena,” Gerald said, helping her to her feet.
Selena nodded and as she leaned on him for support, she sensed his eagerness to talk things through, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Despite her inner conflict, she found comfort in his touch and his nearness and longed for his reassurance.
“I need to ask for your forgiveness,” Gerald said, as they reached the third-floor landing.
“Forgive you? But why?” she asked, confused at his request. She was the one who was keeping secrets. Gerald had admitted everything to her.
“I feel like the worst cad. The thought of that filthy man touching you made my blood boil and I wanted to tear the man from limb to limb. But I shouldn’t have pressed you—especiallynot in front of everyone. I am sorry, Selena, truly. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course, Gerald. You have questions and you have a right to ask those questions of me. We are betrothed. I just need some time. It’s like all these feelings and memories have flooded into my head. And I’m still trying to sort through them. I never imagined that regaining my memory would be so fatiguing.”
“Perhaps we can take a walk this afternoon when after you’ve had a chance to rest.”
“I should like that very much,” she replied with a smile.
He drew her close and tilted her face up to his. “Nothing that you could say could change anything about how I feel about you. My desire to make you my wife remains unwavering,” he whispered. Leaning down, he kissed her passionately, conveying his deep affection and commitment.
